THE BIRDS OF WISCONSIN. 
43 
say about 1870. From that time on to the present its numbers 
have decreased, from too close shooting - , settlement of the 
country, and the draining and drying up of its natural resorts. 
An early breeder in bottom lands along streams, the eggs 
sometimes found in April. In fall remains until we have had 
very sharp frosts. 
Gallinago delicata (Orel.). WILSON'S SNIPE. 
Still a common species in most parts of the state — we 
might say abundant if it were not that we should be at a loss 
to express its numbers in former years. Arrives in southern 
Wisconsin early in April, and a large portion have passed 
north before May 1. A goodly number nest within the state 
as yet, even in the southern part. We procured two sets of 
eggs at Lake Koshkonong in May, 1891, and one set May 20, 
1893, and were it not for the fact that the nest can not be dis- 
covered unless one flushes the bird, a good many might still 
be found. Mr. S. R. Hartwell, of Milwaukee, writes that it 
is still found to some extent in Waukesha County in summer, 
but that the nest is rarely found. He obtained a set of four 
eggs May 30, 1890, near Waukesha. Thirty-five years ago 
a nest was no rarity at all. By September 1 it begins to 
return from the north, yet unless there have been sharp frosts 
it is not very plenty until October, and it remains until well 
into November. A few are always found about open spring 
holes all winter. Of late so persistently hunted that it has 
materially decreased in numbers, even during the past ten 
years or less. 
Maororharaphus griseus (Gmel.). DOWITCHER. 
Formerly a common migrant, now exceedingly rare. We 
have but one specimen of this form of the dowitcher in our 
collections, from Lake Koshkonong, although hundreds were 
formerly killed. There are, in the Milwaukee Public Museum, 
two specimens, these also from Koshkonong, taken in August, 
1886. See remarks under next species. 
Macrorliamphiis scolopaceus (Say). LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER. 
In order to rightly understand the following it is necessary 
to have some knowledge of the conditions as they existed in 
southern Wisconsin, and especially about Lake Koshkonong, 
from about 1865 to 1875. In the first place the shore birds, 
with the exception of the woodcock, and to a limited extent 
the jack snipe, were undisturbed by the gunners. No one 
thought of shooting them in the spring, and the consequence 
